Comparing the Best Paris City Passes – City Pass and Museum Pass

‘The City of Light and Love’, Paris is the favorite of travelers across the world. A city that inspires romance, it is also known for its culture and rich heritage of the arts. From the imposing monuments like the Eiffel Tower and Arc De Triomphe, to world famous museums like Louvre and Orsay, Paris has something for everyone. The innumerable high street fashion boutiques, exquisite restaurants, and stunning public spaces and parks make Paris a wonderful city to explore and enjoy.

A Paris Pass is the best way to explore everything that the city has to offer. A single card allows you multiple-entry instant access to all the major attractions and museums in Paris. It removes the hassle of waiting in lines and handling foreign currency and cards to purchase tickets at every attraction. You also get additional benefits like a free cruise, free bus tour, and exciting shopping offers - at a savings of more than 40% on ticket costs!

With access to almost every attraction in Paris, these city passes will help you save on money and time, and help you plan your trip better and enjoy it to the fullest.

Comparing the Paris Pass & The Paris Museum Pass

Paris is the epitome of European indulgence. The spectacular city and its attractions are a delight to every traveler, and the best way to explore this is through a Paris Pass. The city pass offers an incredible array of attractions, museums, and monuments, with many exciting benefits thrown in. The Pass helps you save more than 30% on tickets and covers everything from entry tickets to travel costs. It has everything you need to travel and explore the city.

The Paris City Pass is available in four options – 2, 3, 4 and 6 day durations. The City Pass includes a Paris Museum Pass, Paris Attractions Pass, and the Paris Visite Travelcard for free travel. The benefits include skip-the-line and priority access, helping you save hours of time of waiting in line for tickets. You can also get a free 1 day ticket on the Big Bus Hop-on Hop-off bus tour, a Seine River Cruise, and a tour of the Opera Garnier. In addition, you get a 120+ page guide book with all the important information and tips to explore Paris. And if this wasn’t enough, a special coupon book with extra discounts at shops and restaurants in Central Paris accompanies your Pass!

What is the Paris Museum Pass?

Paris is a treasure trove of all wonderful things related to art, culture, and architecture. Steeped in history and heritage, the city is home to over 60 museums filled with artefacts and treasures from across the world. The Paris All Access Museum Pass gives you access to all these incredible museums. With unlimited entry, the Paris Museum Pass satisfies all museum buffs, culture enthusiasts, and curious travelers.

The Paris All Access Museum Pass is available in two options - the 2 day and 4 day pass. You can buy the pass online and get direct access to all the monuments and museums' permanent exhibits. There is no restriction on the number of times you can visit a particular place within the valid days of the pass. Take the online ticket and present it at the redemption centre to get the physical pass, which can be shown at any museum on the list to gain entry.

What is the Paris Fast Pass?

The Paris Fast Pass is another city pass that gets you access to all the major attractions in Paris as well as tickets to a hop on hop off bus tours and a Seine river cruise. The Paris Fast Pass is available in three options - Silver, Gold and Platinum.

Silver - 2 Days Priority Access to more than 50 Monuments & Museums + 1 Day Big Bus Hop On Hop Off ticket + Seine River Cruise Quick Entry + Map Of Paris
Gold - 2 Days Priority Access to more than 50 Monuments & Museums + 2 Days Big Bus Hop On Hop Off ticket + Seine River Cruise Quick Entry + Map Of Paris
Platinum - 4 Days Priority Access to more than 50 Monuments & Museums + 2 Days Big Bus Hop On Hop Off ticket + Seine River Cruise Quick Entry + Map Of Paris

The passes are valid for 1 year from the date of purchase and activated only once you use it for the first time. After its first usage, it is valid for the number of days mentioned on the pass (1 or 2 days).

What convenience factors do these cards bring?

A trip is the culmination of several hours of dreaming, planning, and hard-earned money, thus, it is only natural that you wish to make the most of your trip when you visit a new city. You never know when you will be back, so it’s best you make the most of your trip. Travel cards and passes are a great way to explore the city in a limited span of time. Here is why a travel card can be beneficial for you:

1. Huge savings
Tourist passes help you save anywhere from 20%-50% on the cost of tickets as opposed to buying a separate ticket for each attraction. You will have instant access to all the attractions and can access them through one card. These savings mean you can increase your budget for souvenirs, shopping, other experiences, or simply add the money to your pocket!

2. Convenience
The travel pass provides you instant access entry to all attractions. Paris is a tourist hotspot, and the wait in the entry lines to most of the attractions range from 5 mins to 1 hour. The pass will help you skip these lines and head straight to the entry, giving you more time to spend in actual sightseeing.

3. Save time
At the end of every trip, travelers are bound to feel that they wish they had more time to explore. The focus is on getting maximum experiences in the shortest amount of time. With the city pass, you get a guide map that will help you plan better, and the priority access helps you save on time spent standing in lines. All these short periods of time add up to huge chunks that you can utilise in soaking in more of the city.

4. Choice and flexibility
The pass offers an array of attractions and monuments to see, the entry fee of which is included in the pass. This allows you to choose your pace of visiting the attractions. The pass is also flexible and does not have any limitations on entry or timing. You choose how and when to explore the city.

5. Ideal for traveling with kids
Traveling with kids can be made a whole lot easier by making the trip more comfortable for them. A pass allows you to plan better and cut waiting in lines for hours, making sure your kids don’t get cranky!

6. Additional benefits
A pass is packaged to give you the best of the city. The Paris City Pass has several benefits like skip the line access, a river cruise, as well as a day on the hop-on hop-off bus tour. You will not be able to get all these benefits when you simply buy entry tickets, unless you pay extra for them.

What is the cost-benefit analysis of these cards?

The greatest benefit of buying a travel pass or tour card is the savings on cost of tickets. You will end up spending much lesser than what you would to purchase the tickets individually. A simple cost-benefit analysis of the cards will showcase the immense savings on cost. Here are a few examples:

Example 1:
Paris All Access Museums Pass:

Dedicated entrance tickets to the Louvre Museum:
Skip The Line Tickets to the Orsay Museum:
Priority Access Tickets to the Picasso Museum: €11
Skip The Line Arc De Triomphe:
Priority Access to Musee de L'Orangerie: €9
Skip The Line at Rodin Museum:
Skip the Line at Sainte Chapelle:

Total: ~ €92

This is a net saving of about €42, a fantastic saving of 46% on priority tickets! While this just accounts for 7 museums, but the Paris All Access Museum pass offers priority access to almost 60 museums in Paris.

Example 2:
The Paris Pass:

Paris All Access Museum Pass:
1 day Hop-on Hop-off Big Bus Tour:
Seine River Sightseeing Cruise:
Skip The Line Louvre Tickets:
Opera Garnier Guided Tour:
Grévin Museum:
Notre Dame Cathedral Tour & Sainte-Chapelle Tickets:
Skip The Line Arc De Triomphe Tickets:
Centre Pompidou Priority Entrance:

Total: ~ €196

Which Paris City Pass should I go for?

The Paris City Passes are a great option for those visiting Paris for a few days and want to make the most of it. The Paris Pass has several options and you can even plan to explore for up to 6 days. There are no restrictions on the number of attractions or museums you can visit, allowing you to explore the city at your own pace. With the hop-on hop-off bus tour and river cruise, this pass also gives you a different travel experience. It is perfect for the traveller who wants to explore everything and likes a lot of options.

The Paris Pass is also ideal if you are traveling with kids as you don’t have to wait in long queues and get priority access at almost all the attractions. The cruise and bus tour will also give you a breather and let the kids enjoy without the strain of walking everywhere.

It is also perfect for the budget traveller as you will have immense savings compared to buying tickets individually and get free add-on benefits like priority access to attractions plus river cruise and bus tour.

Paris All Access Museum is for the history lover and museum buff. This is ideal if you are enamored by the history of Paris as it will allow you priority access to over 60 museums.

How can I purchase these passes?

Paris All Access Museum Pass

Buy the Paris Museum Pass online and simply show the ticket on your phone to gain access to over 60 museums in the historical city of Paris.

• Enjoy priority and skip the line access to over 60 museums
• Flexible options on validity of the pass and duration including 2 days and 4 days pass
• Free access to the best museums in Paris including Louvre Museum, Orsay Museum, Arch De Triomphe, Pantheon and Notre Dame Cathedral
• Unlimited visits to any museum during the valid days

Paris City Pass

Purchase the Paris Pass online and redeem the e-ticket at the centre to get your pass. Show your pass at any attraction to gain instant entry.

• Entry to 60 museums with the Paris All Access Museum Pass
• Enjoy over 60 attractions with the Paris Attractions Pass including the Seine Bateaux Cruise
• Enjoy Paris with a 1 day Hop-on Hop-off bus tour through all the attractions and monuments
• Travel free across Paris with the Paris Visite Travelcard

Paris Fast Pass

Purchase the Paris Pass online and redeem the voucher at the centre to get your pass. Show your pass at any attraction to gain instant entry.

• Entry to 60 museums with the Paris Fast Pass
• Enjoy Paris with a 1 or 2 day Hop-on Hop-off bus tour through all the attractions and monuments
• Free Seine River Cruise

What are some handy tips for using these passes?

• Make sure you start the day early with the passes. One day is calculated as a calendar day and not as 24 hours, so if you start the day in the afternoon then you will miss out on the entire first half of a day pass.
• Plan your day well, keeping in mind the proximity of the attractions and museums, as well as their opening and closing times. You don’t want to miss out on the ones you really want to visit.
• Ensure you wear comfortable walking shoes. Almost all the attractions and museums are spread across large areas in large compounds.
• The First Sunday of the month is free entry for almost all the monuments and attractions. Try to avoid start using the pass on that day.
• A few museums and attractions are open till late in to the evening/night, make sure you visit them later to maximise your time spent with the pass.

Attraction Specific Paris City Passes

Paris Fantastic Pass - Disneyland by Train, River Cruise & Hop in Hop Off

The Paris Fantasic Pass is your ticket to relieving your childhood! With priority access to Disneyland Paris and round-trip transport on the Disneyland Train, the Paris Fantastic Pass makes your Disneyland Paris visit hassle-free, economical and memorable. In addition, this truly Fantastic Pass allows you free Hop-On, Hop-Off services, priority access at the Eiffel Tower and a lovely cruise on the Seine.

Paris Fantastic Pass in a Nutshell

• Free, one-time access to Disneyland Paris + Round-trip transportation by train to Disneyland.
• Options of Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond passes, which will accordingly entail you to a list of available attractions.
• Free 1-day Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour ticket with audio commentary
• Free 1-hour cruise on the River Seine
• 2-day museum pass, depending on your choice of pass

VIP Fantastic Pass: Eiffel, Disneyland by Train

The Paris VIP Fantastic Pass works best for short term visitors who are interested in exploring the two most famous Parisian landmarks - Disneyland Paris and the Eiffel Tower, in a timely and cost-effective manner. With priority access to Disneyland Paris and the Eiffel Tower, the VIP Fantastic Pass is a great buy!

VIP Fantastic Pass in a Nutshell

• Free, one-time access to the Eiffel Tower and Disneyland Paris.
• Choose between the Silver or Gold passes, which will accordingly entail you to a list of available attractions.
• Enjoy round-trip transportation by train to Disneyland.
• Enjoy priority access to the Eiffel Tower (2nd Floor) along with a host to guide you and make your experience hassle-free.

Paris Night Pass: Cabaret, River Cruise & Hop On Hop Off

The Paris Night Pass is perfect for those interested in experiencing the nightlife of the City of Lights. With exquisite cabaret choices, a 1-day free Hop-On, Hop-Off bus tour as well as a lovely cruise on the Seine, you are sure to enjoy a memorable night in Paris! The Paris Night Pass makes experiencing Parisian nightlife an easy and cost-effective affair.

Paris Night Pass in a Nutshell

• Free, one-time access to cabaret of your choice in Paris.
• Dinner with champagne along with your choice of cabaret depending on your type of pass.
• Options of Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond passes, which will accordingly entail you to a list of available attractions.
• Free 1-day Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour ticket with audio commentary
• Free 1-hour luxury cruise on the River Seine